Workpiece supply system

Abstract

A workpiece supply system includes a robot that supplies a workpiece to each of a plurality of workspaces where a worker performs a predetermined task on the workpiece; a detection unit that detects a degree of fatigue of the worker in each of the workspaces; a fatigue degree evaluation unit that determines whether or not the worker is in a fatigued state, based on the degree of fatigue of the worker detected by the detection unit; and a management device that adjusts, among a plurality of workers, a pace of supply of the workpiece to each of the workers, in a case where the worker is determined by the fatigue degree evaluation unit to be in the fatigued state.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A workpiece supply system comprising:
 a robot that supplies a workpiece to each of a plurality of workspaces where a worker performs a predetermined task on the workpiece; 
 a detection unit that detects a degree of fatigue of the worker in each of the workspaces; 
 a determination unit that determines whether or not the worker is in a fatigued state, based on the degree of fatigue of the worker detected by the detection unit; and 
 an adjustment control unit that adjusts, among the plurality of workspaces, a pace of supply of the workpiece to each of the workspaces by the robot, in a case where the worker is determined by the determination unit to be in the fatigued state. 
 
     
     
       2. The workpiece supply system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the robot is provided in each of the plurality of workspaces, and 
 in a case where the worker is determined by the determination unit to be in the fatigued state, the adjustment control unit adjusts the pace of supply of the workpiece among a plurality of the robots. 
 
     
     
       3. The workpiece supply system according to  claim 1 , wherein the detection unit detects the degree of fatigue by measuring a work time taken by the predetermined task. 
     
     
       4. The workpiece supply system according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the determination unit stores an initial work time taken by the predetermined task, the initial work time being detected by the detection unit at a beginning when the worker started to perform a task in the workspace, and 
 the determination unit determines that the worker is in the fatigued state, when the work time taken by the predetermined task and detected by the detection unit becomes longer than the initial work time to an extent determined in advance. 
 
     
     
       5. The workpiece supply system according to  claim 1 , wherein the detection unit detects the degree of fatigue by detecting a continuous work time from a start of a task in the workspace by the worker. 
     
     
       6. The workpiece supply system according to  claim 1 , wherein the detection unit detects the degree of fatigue by detecting a response time from when the workpiece is supplied to the workspace by the robot to when the worker starts the predetermined task. 
     
     
       7. The workpiece supply system according to  claim 1 , wherein, in a case where the worker is determined to be in the fatigued state, the adjustment control unit increases the pace of supply of the workpiece to the workspace of another worker who is not determined to be in the fatigued state. 
     
     
       8. The workpiece supply system according to  claim 1 , wherein, in a case where the worker is determined to be in the fatigued state, the adjustment control unit reduces the pace of supply of the workpiece to the workspace of the worker in question. 
     
     
       9. The workpiece supply system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an output unit that outputs information about the degree of fatigue of the worker detected by the detection unit. 
     
     
       10. The workpiece supply system according to  claim 9 , wherein, in a case where the worker is determined to be in the fatigued state, the output unit outputs a message recommending the worker to take a break or to be switched.